When Peter Holmberg returns to the Long Beach Yacht Club in early April to defend his title in the Congressional Cup, he?ll face a strong cadre of professional match racers, almost all of whom sail under flags other than the Stars and Stripes. Currently the top-ranking American match racer (Holmberg is actually from the U.S. Virgin Islands) at No. 37, Holmberg should have his hands full with Denmark?s Sten Mohr (ranked No. 1), France?s Luc Pillot (ranked No. 3), and New Zealand?s Dean Barker (ranked No. 9) among others. Also in the mix is Germany?s Markus Wieser, the world?s No. 8-ranked match racer who finished second to Holmberg in the event last year.

The Congressional Cup, sailed annually since 1965, will feature a double round-robin, with 18 individual races contested in Capri 35s in the waters off Long Beach, California. Also invited to compete are Bertrand Pace of France (ranked No. 13), Sebastian Destremau of Australia (ranked No. 22), Damien Iehl of France (not currently ranked), James Spithill of Australia (the 1998 World Youth Match Racing Champion), and Scott Dickson, who will represent the Long Beach Yacht Club.